IRVING, Texas -
Defending Conference USA regular season champion UAB has been selected the preseason favorite to repeat as the league's top team by a vote of the conference's 13 head coaches. Tulsa senior infielder Jill Barrett has been tabbed Preseason Player of the Year, while fellow senior Hurricane Aimee Creger was named Preseason Pitcher of the Year.

UAB earned seven first-place votes and is ranked No. 21 in the nation in the USA Today/NFCA Division I Softball Preseason Poll. The Blazers are coming off their best season in school history, posting a 40-19 record in 2013, claiming the Conference USA regular season title (19-4) and advancing to the program's first NCAA Super Regional.

Tulsa garnered five top votes in the conference, is receiving votes in the USA Today/NFCA poll, and boasts both the C-USA Preseason Player and Pitcher of the Year. Barrett started all 59 games at third base for the Golden Hurricane in 2013, earning all-region and all-conference distinction. She led the league in batting average (.415) and hits (83), and accounted for 42 runs, 31 RBI, 12 doubles, one triple and two homeruns.